Tap raising and lowering mechanism for a foundry ladle



W. V. FOGT July 10, 1956 2,753,606 TAP RAISING AND LOWERING MECHANISMFOR A FOUNDRY LADLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 23, 1953 ENTOR. CE FOGT7W; "7%

WILLARD VAN ATTORNEYS July 10, 1956 W. v -r 2,753,606

TAP RAISING AND LOWERING MECHANISM FOR A FOUNDRY LADLE Filed Nov. 25,1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I WILLARD VANCE FOGT BY fin/ZN) 5 YJJMATTORNEYS TAP RAISWG AND LUWERTNG MECHANISM FOR A FOUNDRY LADLE WillardVance Fogt, Minster, Ohio, assignor to The Industrial Equipment Company,Minster, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 23, 1953,Serial No. 393,614 13 Claims. (Cl. 22--85) The present invention relatesto foundry ladies and more particularly to the mechanism for raising andlowering the tap rod which controls the size of the opening at thebottom of the ladle.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved tap rodraising and lowering mechanism, controllabl from the exterior of theladle by a manually operable device.

Another object is to provide an improved tap rod raising and loweringmechanism, controllable from the ex terior of the ladle, and employing apair of vertically disposed rods connected together and one of which isconnected to the tap rod and the other is employed for providing thelift.

Still another object is to provide a tap rod lowering and raisingmechanism having a pair of vertically movable shafts secured to the taprod, one of the movable shafts being provided with a device for raisingand lowering both shafts and in which the device is movable angularlyaround the axis of one of the shafts.

A further object is to provide a tap rod raising and lowering mechanism,controllable from the exterior of the ladle, and positioned within anenclosure containing a lubricant.

A still further object is to provide a tap rod raising and loweringmechanism, manually controllable from the exterior of the ladle andincluding driving and driven shafts arranged parallel to one another andin which the manually operated portion of the mechanism is constitutedof the driving shaft.

Another object is to provide a tap rod raising and lowering mechanism,manually controllable from the exterior of the ladle, and includingdriving and driven shafts arranged parallel to one another, and in whichthe manually operated portion of the mechanism is adapted to movelaterally around the axis of one of the shafts.

Other objects and features will be apparent as the specification isperused in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a ladle provided with the tapraising and lowering mechanism, improved in accordance with theprinciples of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, but showing the handlever moved laterally from the position shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of a part ofthe ladle and the manual tap raising and lowering mechanism includingthe swingable lover. The section part of this figure is taken along line4-4 in Fig. 2; and

Figure 5 shows a structural detail of the operating handle.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 1 designates a ladle ofstandard size and shape, used in foundries for pouring molten metal intomolds in connection With the fabrication of castings. A bail 2, pivotedat States Patent 0 2,753,606 Patented July 10, 1956 each side of theladle as indicated at 3, is employed for lifting the ladle and its heavycontents from one mold position to another. A spout 4 may be providedalong the edge of the ladle.

Instead of tilting the ladle to pour out the melted metal contents,there may be provided a tap hole (not shown) at the bottom for releasingthe molten metal from the bottom of the ladle directly over the mold. Itwill be understood that the interior of the ladle is lined with heatinsulating refractory material, the latter also covering the bottom andhaving an opening in line with the opening in the ladle.

In order to control the opening and closing of the tap hole, a centrallypositioned tap rod 5 is normally employed and this tap rod is surroundedby a tubular member of refractory material 6.

It is desirable to be able to move the tap rod 5 vertically upward ordownward from a number of different positions located at the exterior ofthe ladle. The present invention relates to an improved means by whichthis can be accomplished.

The tap rod 5 extends through the flattened end of a connecting bar '7and this flattened end rests on the refractory tubular member 6. A nut 8engages threads on the end of the tap rod 5 so that the bar 7 is rigidlyheld to the tap rod. The outer end of the bar terminates in a conicallyshaped collar 9 having the smaller diameter upward and provided with aconically shaped opening. This opening fits tightly over a conicalextension 10 of a shaft 11.

There is an opening at the upper or conical end of the shaft to receivea metal wedge 12 which upon being driven will cause the collar 9 to betightly received by the conical surface lil. The shaft 11 is slidablyreceived within a bore 13 of a cylinder 14, the cylinder being providedat the top with a rectangular lug 15 having a rounded end 16 and alaterally extending opening 17 passing through the lug.

There is a plate 18 welded to the ladle, this plate be ing provided witha pair of round-ended wings 19 having an opening in alignment with theopening in the lug 15. A pin 20 passes through the aligned openings andthereby rigidly spaces the upper end of the cylinder 14 from the ladlebut permits the cylinder to swivel about the pin.

The upper end of the cylinder 14 is provided with a plate 21 and thelower end of the cylinder is similarly provided with a plate 22, bothintegral with the cylinder, and which plates comprise upper and lowerbearings for a rotatable cylinder 23. These cylinders are spaced apart,as indicated by the spacing 24, but are arranged in vertical parallelalignment.

The cylinder 14 and its upper and lower plates are preferably madeintegral as by a casting. The rotary cylinder 23 abuts the innersurfaces of the two plates. A shaft 25 is contained within the cylinder23, passing through the upper plate 21 but stopping short of the lowerplate 22. Both the shafts 11 and 25 are snugly but slidably received bytheir respective cylinders 14, 23, but the shaft 25 is adapted to rotatewith its cylinder 23, whereas the shaft 11 is fixed in position from therotational standpoint and is adapted merely to slide in the verticaldirection.

The upper plate 21 is provided with a pair of openings 26, of which theouter one receives the shaft 25 and the other opening receives the shaft11. In order to prevent foreign matter from reaching the interior of thecylinders 14 and 23 as the shafts 11, 25 are moved up and down throughthe openings 26, a top plate 27 may be secured to the plate 21, havingcountersunk openings 28 concentrically surrounding the respectiveshafts.

ice

Rubber, plastic or soft metal washers are contained within thecountersunk openings, these washers serving to wipe the shafts as theyreciprocate. None of the molten metal can reach the washers on accountof the protection afforded the latter by the edge and upper surfaces .ofthe top plate 27.

If desired, an O-ring insert 29 can be applied to the joint where therotatable cylinder 28 slidingly abuts the under-side of the plate 21.This provision is not necessary in the case of the shaft 11 and cylinder14- because the plate 21 is integral with the cylinder and there is nobearing joint between these elements.

At the upper end of the shaft 11 below the tapered portion, there is anintegral lug 30 extending laterally therefrom and having a strengtheningweb 31. This ing has an opening 32 which is somewhat larger than ashouldered portion 33 of the shaft 25. A sleeve 34 interposed betweenthe shouldered diameter of the shaft and the opening 32, this sleevesetting against the shoulder 35 of'the shaft and having a length alittle longer than the thickness of the lug 30. Thus the sleeve extendsa short distance above the upper surface of the lug.

The shoulder portion 33 of the shaft is threaded at the top, asindicated at 36, to receive a nut 37 which on being tightened pressesagainst the upper edge of the sleeve 34. Thus the shaft 25 is adapted torotate in a limited sense within the lug 39. The purpose of the rotationof the shaft will appear as the description proceeds.

The plate 22 at the lower end of the cylinder 14 is provided with anauxiliary plate 3%. It will be understood that the lower end of thecylinder 23 slidably abuts the upper surface of the plate 22 in order torotate with respect to the plate and, if desired, an O-ring 39 similarto the ring 29 may be provided at this abutting surface.

The plate 22 is provided with a pair of circular openings 40, 41 whichcorrespond in size to the internal diameters of the cylinders '14, 23respectively. A plug 32 tightly fits into the bottom of the bore 43 ofthe cylinder 23. This plug has a centrally located opening 4'4. There isa lateral passageway 45 drilled through the plate 22 and extending fromthe interior of the cylinder 14 to the interior 4-3 of the cylinder 23through the opening 44.

Thus when lubricating oil 46 is admitted to the bottom of either one ofthe cylinders 14, 23 this oil seeks its own level through thepassageways 45, 44. The purpose of the oil is to lubricate the shafts11, 25 as they move upwardly or downwardly through their respectivecylinders. In order to facilitate the lubricating action, I may provideon the shaft 11 a series of oil grooves 47, both longitudinal andlateral, which permit the oil to travel over a large portion of theshaft. Such grooves can be provided, if desired, on the shaft 25.

In order to support the two cylinders from the lower part of the ladle,a double-winged bracket 48 is welded to the ladle near the bottom andhas a pin 49 extending through the wing portions of the bracket. Asleeve 50 surrounds the pin between the wing elements and to this sleevethere is attached a heavy rod 51 threaded at the end as indicated at 52.This threaded end extends through an opening in a triangular lug 53which is welded or otherwise secured to the bottom plate 33.

Nuts 54 are threaded on the rod 51 at each side of the lug 53 so that byloosening the nut on the left and tightening the nut on the right, thedouble cylinder mechanism can be adjusted in its vertical positionbecause, as pointed out hereinbefore, this mechanism is swingable aboutthe pin 20. This is an important adjustment as it accommodates anychange in length of the rod 7 and there-- by assures that the positionof the tap rod shall remain directly in line with the opening in thebottom of the ladle 1.

In order to lock the sleeve 23 from further rotation, I may provide asmall threaded rod 55 with a handle 56 projecting upwardly through theplates 38, 22 and striking the lower surface of the sleeve 23 at theposition where it abuts the plate v22. As the handle is rotated ,upward,

4 pressure is exerted against the lower edge of the cylinder 23.

In accordance with one of the features of my invention, one of theshafts, specifically 11, is designed more especially to carry the weightof the tap rod, its heavy insulating covering, and also the horizontalrod 7, while the shaft 25 is intended mainly for the purpose oftemporarily elevating the main shaft 11. Thus the latter is usually ofgreater diameter than the lifting shaft 25.

In order to hold the main shaft .11 in its elevated position to which itwas lifted by the shaft 25, I may provide a tapped hole through thecylinder 14 to receive a roundheaded set screw 57 which carries a handle58. Thus, by tightening this handle, the shaft 11 will be caused toremain in its last elevated position and thereby to carry the weight ofthe tap rod and the bar or connecting rod 7.

In order to provide the lifting shaft 25 with mechanism for elevatingthis shaft, and thereby elevating the weightholding shaft 11 through thelug 30, I provide the shaft 25 at its lower end with an array or seriesof teeth 59 which form a rack. In vertical alignment with this teetharray there is a slot (not shown) formed in the rotatable cylinder 23. Agear 60 extends through the slot and is adapted to mesh with the teethor rack 59.

For holding this gear in position a gear casing 61 is provided integralwith the rotatable cylinder 23, the gear being adapted to rotate on ashaft 52 mounted on a bearing 63 at one side of the casing. The shaft isextended through the bearing to receive a circular plate 64 riveted orscrewed to the bearing plate and terminating in a handle 65.

Thus, by swinging the handle either downwardly Ol upwardly, the gear 6%is rotated and the shaft 25 is caused to elevate or deress. A coverplate 650' is screwed or riveted to the gear casing so as to provide aliquid-proof compartment about the gear 66.

The position of the operator when observing the flow of molten metalthrough the bottom tap hole of the ladle is always at the handle 65because by operating the latter, he can change the vertical positions ofthe shafts 2.5, 13, and thus control the vertical position of the taprod 5 with respect to the tap hole in the ladle.

On certain occasions it may be desirable for the operator to shift hisposition with respect to the ladle, for better observation of the moltenmetal leaving the tap hole, or perhaps to clear an obsrnction to hisline of sight. It is simply necessary for him to pull or push the handle65 in the lateral direction, at which time the gear casing and thesleeve 23 will be caused to rotate about the axis of the shaft 25.

But since'the shaft is also adapted to rotate at the sleeve bearing 34,the pressure of the gear wheel 6t acting side wise on the teeth of therack 59 will cause the shaft 25 also to rotate through the same angulardistance that the handle 65 has been swung. The position of the gear,the gear wheel, the cylinder 23 and the shaft 25 under thesecircumstances, and assuming that the handle 65 and casing 61 have beenswung away from the observer, has been illustrated in Fig. 3.

In addition to changing the normal position of the handle 65 in thelateral direction in the manner described, I may, as a further featureof the invention, adjust the normal position of the handle in thevertical direction. This is of-advantage as when the thickness of thelining 6 varies it may be desirable to bring the handle to a normalposition as will allow it to move with equal facility either downwardlyor upwardly.

Thus, in Fig. 5 the plate 64 may be formed of two parts 66, 67, one ofwhich has an even number (four as shown) of openings on the bolt line,and the other has an uneven number of openings 69 (five as shown), alsoon the bolt line of its respective part. The latter has screw threadsfor receiving a cap screw '70 which passes fairly loosely through anyone of the openings 68.

The plate 66 has a central opening 71 and the shaft 62 has a threadedopening 72 in line therewith. A cap screw 73 snugly passes through theopening 71 to engage the threads of the opening 72. Thus, by looseningthe cap screw 73 and by matching different holes in the plate 66 withdifferent holes in the plate 67 by means of the cap screw 70, it ispossible to obtain twenty different positions of the operating handle.When the proper position of the handle has been obtained, the cap screws70, 73 are tightened to clamp the plates 66, 67 together. The normalposition of the handle 65 can therefore be shifted upwardly ordownwardly and one of such positions has been indicated by the dot-dashlines 74.

In order to replenish the body of oil 46 in the bottom of the twocylinders lid, 23, an oil opening may be provided in the gear casing er,this opening being closed by a set screw 66a. Thus, as the oil is pouredinto the gear casing and reaches a level sufficiently high to run overthe lower edge s7 of the slot in the cylinder 23, the oil will firstcollect at the lower end of the cylinder and will then travel throughthe communicating openings 44, 45 into the lower end of the cylinder 14.

From the foregoing it is evident that I have disclosed a new and usefultap raising and lowering mechanism in which the heavy weight of the taprod and the connecting bar is borne by a shaft of considerable size andcan be held in any position by a clamping device, while the function bywhich the weight-sustaining shaft is elevated to its upper position isperformed by a second shaft through the medium of a rack and gear wheel.This gear and its operating handle is adapted to be rotated in thelateral direction with respect to the weight-sustaining shaft and withrespect to the ladle so that the operator can stand in his mostadvantageous position when raising and lowering the tap rod.

There is also provided a unique lubricating system by which the frictioncaused by the elevating movement of the weight-sustaining and thelifting shafts is minimized. in addition to the clamping device by whichthe weightsustaining shaft is caused to remain in its last position andthereby relieve the lifting shaft of any weight-carrying function, thereis provided mechanism for temporarily locking the lifting shaft and itscylinder from further rotary movement.

It will be understood that various modification and arrangements instructure could be made without departing from the spirit of myinvention and, accordingly, I desire to comprehend such modificationsand substitutions of equivalents as may be considered to come within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Mechanism for raising and lowering a tap rod which sets over thebottom opening of a foundry ladle, a plurality of cylinders arrangedparallel with respect to one another and with respect to the ladle, saidcylinders being secured to the ladle, shafts slidably disposed withinsaid cylinders, one of said cylinders being rotatable on its axis andhaving a longitudinal slot, the shaft contained in the rotatablecylinder having a rack thereon in line with said slot, and a gearadapted to be driven by hand or power extending through said slot andengaging said rack.

2. Mechanism for raising and lowering a tap rod which sets over thebottom opening of a foundry ladle, a pair of shafts arranged in verticalparallel relation and spaced apart, one of said shafts being of largerdiameter than the other, a connecting bar between the upper end of saidtap rod and the shaft of larger diameter, a lug connected between theupper ends of the two shafts, cylindrical members surrounding saidshafts to permit the shafts to slide therein, said members being supported from the side of the ladle with one member positioned between theother member and the ladle, the member farther removed from the ladlebeing rotatable with respect to the other member and having a verticalslot,

the shaft contained therein being provided with a rack in line with saidslot, and a hand-operated gear external of said last mentioned cylinderengaging said rack through said slot.

3. Mechanism for raising and lowering a tap rod which. sets over anopening in a foundry ladle, a pair of vertical shafts, both of which aremovable in the vertical direction and one of which is driven by theother, a com necting bar between the driven shaft and one end of the taprod, and means for raising and lowering said driving shaft in order toraise the tap rod from said opening, said means including a rack on thelast mentioned shaft, and a hand-operated gear meshing with the rack,said rack and gear being adapted to rotate about the axis of the lastmentioned shaft, whereby the position of the handoperated gear can bechanged with respect to the position of the ladle.

4. Mechanism for raising and lowering a tap rod which sets over anopening in the bottom of a foundry ladle, a pair of vertical shafts,both of which are movable in the vertical direction and one of which isdriven by the other, a connecting bar between the driven shaft and oneend of the tap rod, said shafts being contained in cylinders in verticalparallel alignment, the cylinder containing the driving shaft beingadapted to rotate about its axis, and means exterior of said lastmentioned cylinder and shaft for lifting the driving shaft, said meansbeing attached to said rotary cylinder and movable therein.

5. Mechanism for raising and lowering a tap rod which sets over anopening in the bottom of a foundry ladle of circular configuration, apair of vertical shafts arranged in the vertical direction, the axes ofwhich are radially disposed with respect to the center line of theladle, the shaft nearer the ladle being of greater diameter than theshaft farther removed, a connecting bar between the tap rod and theshaft of greater diameter, and a connecting lug between the two shafts,said shafts being contained in cylinders, the cylinder containing theshaft of larger diameter being rigidly fixed with respect to the ladleand the cylinder containing the shaft of smaller diameter being adaptedto rotate with respect to the ladle while maintaining its verticalposition, and means extending through the rotatable cylinder forhand-lifting the shaft contained therein, whereby the companion shaftand the tap rod are accordingly raised, and means for clamping the shaftof larger diameter within its cylinder in order that the tap rod shallbe maintained rigidly in the position to which it was lifted when theshaft of smaller diameter was hand-lifted.

6. Mechanism, for raising and lowering a tap rod which sets over anopening in the bottom of a foundry ladle of circular configuration, apair of vertical shafts rranged in the vertical direction, the axes ofwhich are radially disposed with respect to the center line of theladle, the shaft nearer the ladle being of greater diameter than theshaft farther removed, a connecting bar between the tap rod and theshaft of greater diameter, and a connecting lug between the two shafts,said shafts being contained in cylinders, the cylinder containing theshaft of larger diameter being rigidly fixed with respect to the ladleand the cylinder containing the shaft of smaller diameter being adaptedto rotate with respect to the ladle while maintaining its verticalposition, means extending through the rotatable cylinder forhand-lifting the shaft contained therein, whereby the companion shaftand the tap rod are accordingly raised, means for clamping the shaft oflarger diameter within its cylinder in order that the tap rod shall bemaintained rigidly in the position to which it was lifted when the shaftof smaller diameter was hand-lifted, and means for rigidly holding therotatable cylinder in its last adjusted position.

7. Mechanism for raising and lowering a tap rod which sets over anopening in the bottom of a foundry ladle, a pair of vertical shafts bothof which are movable in the vertical direction and one of which isdriven by the other, a connecting bar between the driven shaft and oneend of the. tap rod, and a lugbetween the ends of said shafts, cylinderssurrounding each of said shafts, the cylinder surrounding the drivenshaft being fixedly mounted on the ladle and the cylinder containing thedriving shaft being rotatably mounted with respect to the ladle, meansfor elevating and lowering the driving shaft, and means whereby the.driven. shaft and the tap rod are elevated or lowered, and meansincluding a clamping screw passing through the cylinder which containsthe driven shaft for clamping the lastmentioned shaft, and therefore thetap rod, in position.

8. Mechanism for raising and lowering a tap rod which sets over anopening; in the bottom of a foundry ladle, a pair of vertical shaftsboth of which are movable in the vertical direction and one of which isdriven by the other, a connecting bar between the driven shaft and oneend of; the tap rod, and a. lug between the ends of said shafts,cylinders surrounding each of said shafts, the cylinder surrounding thedriven shaft being fixedly mounted on the ladle and the cylindercontaining the driving shaft being rotatably mounted with respect to theladle, means for elevating and lowering the driving shaft, and meanswhereby the driven shaft and the tap rod are elevated or lowered, meansincluding a clamping screw passing through the cylinder which containsthe driven shaft for clamping the last mentioned shaft, and thereforethe tap rod, in position, and means for clamping the rotating cylinderin its last position to which it was rotated.

9. Mechanism for raising and lowering a tap rod which sets over anopening in the bottom of a circular foundry ladle, a plurality ofcylinders. arranged parallel with respect to one another and in radialrelation with respect to the ladle, said cylinders being joined togetherto prevent any relative movement in the longitudinal direction butpermitting one of the. cylinders to rotate on its axis, means foradjustably securing the cylinder unit to the sides of the ladle, shaftsin the respective cylinders, a bar connecting the tap rod to the shaftwhich is nearer the ladle, both of said shafts being adapted to move inunison in the direction of their axes, and means for raising andlowering the shaft farther removed from the ladle to cause the other ofsaid shafts to be raised or lowered in the. same amounts, whereby thetap rod is raised and lowered with respect to the opening in the foundryladle.

10. Mechanism for raising and lowering a tap rod which sets over thebottom opening of a ladle, a plurality of'cylinders arranged in parallelrelation, brackets for supporting said cylinders from the ladle, one ofsaid cylinders being rotatably mounted on said brackets and the otherbeing stationaril'y mounted, shafts in said cylin- 50 ders adapted tomove. up and down therein, the shaft in the stationarily mountedcylinder being. connected to the tap rod and the shaft in the rotatablymounted cylinder being connected to the other of said shafts, and meansfor elevating or lowering the shaft. contained in the r0.- tatablecylinder, said' means including a gear which is mounted on the.rotatable cylinder, whereby said gear means, is rotated with theattached cylinder'and the shaft in the rotatable cylinder is caused torotate'in synchronism withthe movable cylinder and the gear means.

11. Mechanismfor raising and lowering a tap rod. which sets over thebottom opening of a foundry ladle, a plurality of cylinders. arrangedparallel with respect to one another and with respect to the ladle, saidcylinders be ing secured to the ladle, shafts slidably disposed Within:said cylinders, one of said cylinders being rotatable on its axis. andhaving a longitudinal slot, the shaft con.- tained. in the rotatablecylinder having a rack thereon in line with said slot, a gear extendingthrough said slot.

and engaging said rack and a hand-operated lever se cured to said gear.

12. Mechanism for raising and lowering a tap rod which sets over thebottom opening of a foundry ladle, a plurality of cylinders arrangedparallel with respect to one another and with respect to the ladle, saidcylinders being secured to the ladle, shafts slidably disposed withinsaid cylinders, one of said cylinders being rotatable onits axis andhaving a longitudinal slot, theshaftcontained in the rotatable cylinderhavingarack thereon in line with said slot, a gear extending throughsaid slotand engaging said rack and a hand-operated lever secured tosaid gear, said lever being carried by aplate, and means for adjustingthe position of said plate its axis andhaving a longitudinal slot, theshaft contained in the rotatable cylinder having a rack thereon in linewith said slot, a gear extending through said slotand engaging said rackand a hand-operated lever secured to said gear, said lever being carriedon a pair of circular plates, one of which is secured to the gear andthe other is shiftable circumferentially with respect to the plate thatis secured to the gear, said lever being secured to the shiftabl'eplate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS CoffeyOct. 5,. 1937 Reed Jan. 3, 1950

